Sermon: "What Is Truth?"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

It is great to be with you here at St. Paul's, Athens, once again. And, after having spent the last week with the House of Bishops, it is also wonderful to be back in East Tennessee, I can assure you!

Now, having been in close contact with so many bishops recently, I need to say that the opening words of Jesus' parable this morning really did catch my attention. "Jesus said, 'There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day'"(Lk 16:19). Even though we bishops did not wear our purple each day at the meeting, that is the color associated with bishops, as you probably know. In addition, we met this year in New Orleans, and I must admit that we did indeed "feast sumptuously every day." Therefore, the description of the rich man in this parable seems uncomfortably close to home at the moment.

Putting aside my own discomfort, though, today's parable from Jesus does ask us all an intriguing question. In the story that Jesus weaves for us, he poses this dilemma: What would it take to convince us of the truth? What would it take to convince us of the truth?

Remember in the parable that the rich man has died, and he is conversing with the spirit of Abraham. From his current perspective, the rich man sees things differently - especially as he views the present comfort of Lazarus, so distinct from his own torment. Thus, the rich man has had a profound and upsetting encounter with ultimate truth, following his death. Further, even though he must suffer the consequences himself, he wants to send a word of warning back to his brothers, who are still alive. Then we hear Abraham's ironic and disturbing reply to the rich man's appeal on behalf of his brothers: "Neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead"(16:31).

While this parable from Jesus suggests many questions, a central one surely involves what it would take to convince us of the truth. In that regard, a kind of drumbeat of truth can be heard through all our readings today, repeating a persistent message. And that drumbeat of truth is this: Our wealth, our riches, and our comfort may provide hindrances to our own spiritual well-being. Jesus seems to ask us this morning what it will take to convince us of that truth.

The message of the reading from the prophet Amos certainly is appropriate in similar terms. The prophet proclaims, "Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria"(6:1). Now, being at ease and feeling secure are often goals for us as well - in our time and place - are they not? Perhaps Amos has some words of warning for us also. At the reading's end, Amos prophesizes that "The revelry of the loungers shall pass away"(6:7).

The context of this reading actually is more frightening even than that. Indeed, immediately following these words come visions of greater turmoil, calamity, and the final destruction of Israel. Those who are at ease, those who feel secure, and those who lounge in this life are duly warned by Amos.

In St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy, the Apostle's words are not so harsh. However, the message certainly is consistent. Listen again to the conclusion of this reading. "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life"(6:17-19).

Both the readings from Amos and First Timothy, then, ask us the question posed by Jesus' parable. What will it take to convince us of the truth that our wealth, our riches, and our comfort may provide hindrances to our own spiritual well-being?

We spoke in the adult class this morning of experiences in Haiti and on Native American reservations in South Dakota. Both those places experience extreme poverty in worldly goods … but, at the same time, great wealth in spiritual riches. Therefore, these situations make the same point, from a different perspective. Spiritual health may be at odds with wealth, riches, and comfort.

The call we can discern in our readings this morning is a familiar one throughout Holy Scripture. Further, this call provides the answer to Jesus' disturbing question today. And this call is to the practice of good stewardship.

You see, our wealth, our riches, and our comfort are not, by themselves, hindrances to our spiritual well-being. However, what we do with those gifts can indeed be quite detrimental to our spiritual health. Thus, for the sake of our soul's health, we need to pay careful attention to our own practice of stewardship.

That is, we need to understand that everything we have is a gift. God is the Giver, for the world is the Lord's. We have temporary responsibility for the care of certain possessions and time and money and people. But the owner of these things is God Almighty. Make no mistake about that. We, then, are stewards for God's sake.

That, my friends, is the truth to which we are directed today by the prophet Amos, by St. Paul, and by Jesus Christ. While our wealth, our riches, and our comfort may provide hindrances to our spiritual well-being, they likewise may serve to glorify God, who is the creator and ruler of all things, in heaven and on earth. May we therefore take seriously our Lord's call to good stewardship. The health of our souls is very much at stake.

By way of conclusion, then, I leave you with the question repeated several times in this sermon and suggested by today's readings. What will it take to convince you of the truth?

Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee